Pep Guardiola has reacted to the allegations leveled against Manchester City and declared that he is ready to stick around and defend the club.
The Premier League accused City of breaking its financial fair play regulations more than 100 times over the course of nine seasons earlier this week. They are accused of providing false financial information, breaking the law regarding player and manager remuneration, and obstructing the Premier League’s four-year-old inquiry.
City later issued their own statement which said the club would use “irrefutable evidence” to put the matter “to rest once and for all”.
In 2020 the club were previously charged by UEFA for committing “serious breaches” of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016 before seeing their two-year ban from European competitions overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
What Pep Guardiola Said
In his press conference on Friday, a clearly agitated Guardiola refuted the new allegations, which he alleged had been brought by the other 19 teams in the Premier League. He said he is convinced City will be exonerated, despite being presumed guilty.
“My first thought is that we have already been condemned,” he said.
“So, what’s happened since Monday happened before with UEFA – we were condemned, we already have the accusation, now we have charges.
“You have to understand that 19 teams in the Premier League are accusing us without letting us [have the] opportunity to defend in the words of my club, my owner, my chairman, my people.
“They explain everything during these three or four years. You know exactly on what side I am.”
He added: “We are not part of the establishment, being in this league. But at the same time, I understand they can do it. Allow ourselves to defend, that’s all. I don’t know about other countries, but in this country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty – and it didn’t happen.
“So with UEFA there was a sentence, now we are without even that.”
Will Guardiola Leave Man City?
Guardiola believes that, although the case should “happen immediately, in one, two or three months” it will take a lot longer to settle. City have hired Lord Pannick KC – the same lawyer who was successful at CAS in 2020 – to fight their case against the Premier League.
There has been speculation this week that the charges could prompt Guardiola to leave.
The Catalan coach is the second longest serving manager in the Premier League, having been with City since 2016, but has previously vowed to his superiors at City: “’If you lie to me, I am not here. I will be out’.”
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However, he was steadfast in his position on Friday. “I am not moving from this seat, I can assure you,” he said.
Pep Guardiola announces he only wants to stay at Man City: “I am not moving from this seat, I want to stay. More than ever, I’m sure”. 🚨🔵 #MCFC @TomYoungSJ
“They did not lie to me. Look what happened with UEFA, we did not do anything wrong. Why should I not trust my people?”. pic.twitter.com/IHWyMrMBGW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 10, 2023
“I want to stay more than ever. After many, many years in the Premier League I do not want to move on.”
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